What is the difference between HEX and RGB?

HEX and RGB represent the same color space but in different notation. HEX uses a six-digit hexadecimal code (like #2563EB), while RGB uses three decimal values from 0 to 255 (like rgb(37, 99, 235)). They are interchangeable and represent the exact same range of colors.

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. Hue is the color angle on the color wheel (0-360 degrees), Saturation is the color intensity (0-100%), and Lightness is how light or dark the color is (0-100%). HSL is often more intuitive for humans to work with when adjusting colors.

Which color format should I use in CSS?

All three formats (HEX, RGB, HSL) work in CSS. HEX is the most compact and widely used. RGB is useful when you need to calculate or animate individual color channels. HSL is best when you need to create color variations by adjusting lightness or saturation, like generating lighter or darker versions of a brand color.

Toolts›Color Picker

Color Picker

Pick any color and get its HEX, RGB, and HSL values. Convert between formats instantly.

#2563EB

R 37

G 99

B 235

HEX

RGB

HSL

CSS Variables

Contrast Preview

White text

Black text

Free Online Color Picker and Converter

The Toolts Color Picker lets you select any color and instantly see its representation in the three most commonly used web color formats: HEX, RGB, and HSL. You can pick a color visually using the native color picker, adjust individual RGB channels with sliders, or type a HEX value directly. All conversions happen instantly in your browser.

Understanding Color Formats

HEX (hexadecimal) is the most widely used color format in web development. A HEX color consists of a hash symbol followed by six hexadecimal digits, where the first two represent red, the middle two represent green, and the last two represent blue. Each pair ranges from 00 (none) to FF (maximum). For example, #FF0000 is pure red, #00FF00 is pure green, and #0000FF is pure blue.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) represents colors as three decimal values ranging from 0 to 255. It describes the same color space as HEX but in a format that is easier for calculations and color manipulation in JavaScript and CSS animations. For example, rgb(255, 0, 0) is the same pure red as #FF0000.

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) describes color in terms that are more intuitive for humans. Hue is the color angle on the color wheel (0° is red, 120° is green, 240° is blue). Saturation controls color intensity from gray (0%) to vivid (100%). Lightness ranges from black (0%) to white (100%) with the pure color at 50%. HSL makes it easy to create color variations — adjust lightness for tints and shades, or reduce saturation for muted tones.

Choosing Colors for Web Design

When selecting colors for a website or application, consider contrast and accessibility. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. Use the contrast preview above to check whether white or black text is more readable on your chosen color. A good starting point for most projects is to choose a primary brand color, then generate lighter and darker variations using HSL by adjusting the lightness value.

Frequently Asked Questions

HEX and RGB represent the same color space in different notation. HEX uses a six-digit hexadecimal code (#2563EB), while RGB uses three decimal values 0–255 (rgb(37, 99, 235)). They produce identical colors and are fully interchangeable.

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, Lightness. Hue is the color angle (0–360°), Saturation is color intensity (0–100%), and Lightness is brightness (0–100%). It's more intuitive for humans when adjusting colors, especially for creating tints, shades, and muted variations.

All three work in CSS. HEX is the most compact and popular. RGB is useful for animations or calculating channel values. HSL is best for generating color variations (lighter/darker) by adjusting the lightness value.

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